Method for preserving vegetables



Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIETHOD FOR PRESERVING VEGETABLES Wolfgang Giindel, Dusseldorf-Oberkassel, Eckart Meyer and Willy Olfermann, Dusseldorf-Derendori', and Hedwig Fuchs, Dusseldorf, Germany, assignors to Henkel & Cie, G. m. b. 11., Dusseldorf-Holthausen. Germany No Drawing. Application May 11, 1950, Serial No. 161,478. In Germany October 1, 1948 4 Claims. (Cl. 99-156) that phenyl carbamine acid isopropyl ester of the formula CsH5.NH.CO.O.CH(CHa)2 has the surprising capacity of most efiectively preventing the spoilage or sprouting of vegetables, particularly potatoes, said capacity being much greater than that of 2.4-dichlor-phenoxy-acetic acid and 4-chlor-2-cresoxy-acetic acid, or of other esters of phenyl carbamine acid. A particular advantage of thiscompound is that it has no toxic effects on man or beast.

The compound is utilized by being first finely ground with an inert carrier, such as talcum, stone powder, kaolin or lime, or mixtures thereof, in amounts ranging from 5 to 100 times the amount 01' the compound. The mixture is drysprayed upon the vegetables while they are be- 7 ing stored.

It is also possible to provide the'compound in the form of suitable solutions, such as alcohol solutions, and then apply these solutions to the storaged vegetables.

If desired, the compound can be used in the form of emulsions or suspensions in water, or aqueous solutions.

Amounts of the compound required to treat 100 kilograms of stored vegetables can vary within wide limits depending upon storage conditions and, if the compound is to be very efiective, may range between 2 grams to 20 grams per 100 kilograms of the stored vegetables.

The great reaction inertia of phenyl carbamine acid isopropyl ester in relation to other chemicals makes it possible to use along with it other bacteria-destroying substances, such as l-naphthyl-acetlc acid-methyl ester and the like; due to its great resistance in respect to alkali media it may be used in lime or calcium hydratecontaining carriers, which were used in agriculture to prevent spoilage.

The preserving medium constituting the subject of the present invention can be applied when the vegetables are arranged in ricks.,or are stored in cellars, boxes, silos, or the like.

The following example is given by way of illustration only:

2.5 kilograms of phenyl carbamine acid V propyl ester are mixed with 97.5 kilograms kaolin. The resulting mixture constitutes a highly eflective means for preserving vegetables and preventing their premature spoilage or sprouting. The mixture is sprayed over the vegetables.

- Second example An equally effective compound is obtained by mixing 1 kilogram of phenyl carbamine acid isopropyl ester, 3 kilograms of l-naphthyl-acetic acid-methyl ester and 96 kilograms talcum.

Third example Same as second example, but with talcum replaced by stone powder.

It i apparent that these examples have been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that they are subject to many variations and modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention.

All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 1. The process of protecting vegetables from spoilage which comprises the step of applying phenyl carbamine acid isopropyl ester to the vegetables.

2. The process of protecting vegetables from spoilage which comprises the step of applying to the vegetable a product consisting of a mixture of a solid comminuted carrier and phenyl carbamine acid isopropyl ester.

3. The process of protecting vegetables from spoilage which comprises the step of applying to the vegetables a solution of dissolved phenyl carbamine acid isopropyl ester.

4. The process of protecting vegetables from spoilage which comprises the step of applyin to the vegetables phenyl carbamine acid isopropyl ester emulsified in an aqueous solution.

WOLFGANG GUNDEL. ECKART MEYER. WILLY OFFERMANN. HEDWIG FUCHS.

REFERENCES crrEp The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,026,619 Etzelmiller Jan. 7, 1936 2,093,865 Denny Sept. 21, 1937 2,341,868 Hitchcock Feb. 15,1944 

1. THE PROCESS OF PROTECTING VEGETABLES FROM SPOILAGE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEP OF APPLYING PHENYL CARBAMINE ACID ISOPROPYL ESTAER TO THE VEGETABLES. 